Means for converting impulse linear acceleration to rotational inertia

ABSTRACT

A projectile timing fuze arrangement in which a rotatable arming element is driven by a rotor that contains fluid within a forward end of an internal spiral groove thereof, such that upon the rotor being subjected to impulse linear acceleration, rotational motion will be imparted to the rotor.

Lelltowitz et a1. a 14 1 May 15, 1973 [5 MEANS FOR CONVERTING IMPULSE [56] References Cited LINEAR ACCELERATION T0 UNITED STATES PATENTS ROTATIONAL INERTIA 3,197,587 7/1965 Pope ..73/503 X [75.] Inventors: Issai Lefkowitz, Princeton; William 3,610,154 10/1971 Brown ..102/78 J. Ralph, Willingboro; Don l 2,630,068 3 1953 Clarke ..102/70o Lemon Haddonfield; Benjamin 2,789,192 4 1957 Wlute ..73 515 LM Nabreski Pennsauken, a" of NJ; 3,126,828 3/1964 Tafel ..lO2/78 D ,dFox R e N Y 3,132,520 5/1964 Wmg ..73/503 Y 3,229,529 1/1966 Chang ..73 4091 v 3,425,354 2/1969 Carlson ..102/79 [73] Ass1gnee: The United States of America as 3,603,158 9/1971 Schlitz 73/515' represented by the Secretary of the Army Primary ExaminerSamuel W. Engle Attorney-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward J. Kelly, [22] 1971 Herbert Ber] & Sheldon Kanars [21] Appl. No.: 138,052 [57] ABSTRACT [52] Us Cl 102/78 102/81 73/515 A projectile timing fuze arrangement in which a [51] Int Cl IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII n F42c 15/24 rotatable arming element is driven by a rotor that con- Fie d "i 70 706' tains fluid within a forward end of an internal spiral groove thereof, such that upon the rotor being subjected to impulse linear acceleration, rotational motion will be imparted to the rotor.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENIE HAY 1 51m V/ZZ/ BY: g I m M w" ATTORNEYS.

\NVENTOKS 55A\ LEFKOW\TZ WILLlAM J. RALPH BENJAM\N V. NABRE$K\ .DONALV R. LENTON DAV 0 FOX 5 1M 14" H W l MEANS FOR CONVERTING IMPULSE LINEAR ACCELERATION T ROTATIONAL INERTIA The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

Heretofore, projectile timing fuze arrangements have generally included spring tensioning devices which have been unreliable after a lengthy period of storage in which the spring took a mechanical set.

It is an object of the invention to provide a projectile timing fuze arrangement which is reliably operational even after long storage periods.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement in which the force of linear acceleration is utilized for positively rotating an arming member.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view of a preferred linearly accelerated arrangement embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a modification of the FIG. 1 arrangement in which electrical power may be generated.

The projectile timing fuze arrangement shown generally at (FIG. 1) has a rotor 11 appropriately journalled in its housing member 12. The rotor shaft 13 extends rearwardly through the central opening 14 provided in the housing rearward end wall 15 and is drivingly connected to a rotational arming member 16 by means of a suitable adhesive or epoxy applied to the mating or securing threads. The rotor has a conically recessed rearward end face 17 surrounding a portion of the shaft 13 and the housing wall 15 is provided with a mating conically shaped internal surface portion 18. An appropriate bearing assembly 20 is of conical contour to provide a suitable journal for the surfaces l7, 18. Preferably, the bearing assembly 20 is made of fiberglass cloth impregnated with an appropriate resin.

The rotor 11, which may be constructed of metal or plastic material, is formed with an internal spiral helix groove or vane 21. An unidirectional shear plate 22 is secured across the helical groove 21 adjacent the forward end thereof, and a predetermined amount of fluid 23 is stored in the groove forward end and held by the shear plate located rearwardly. An appropriately sealed plug (not shown) can serve to close and seal the forward end of the rotor against leakage. Preferably, the fluid employed is a silicone fluid with an impregnated powder such as uranium.

The projectile timing fuze arrangement is unarmed prior to the set back force applied thereto upon a shell being launched, whereupon the arrangement receives an impulse linear acceleration and the shear plate 22 ruptures. This permits the silicone grease or oil 23 to be translated through the spiral helix vane in the body of the rotor 11, thereby imparting rotational energy to the rotor which rotates or drives the arming member 16 towards its arming position. After a predetermined time subsequent to initiating arming member rotation, the shell will be detonated, dependent upon its timer construction.

In the FIG. 2 modification, the rotor shaft 13 will impart motion to a rotationally mounted member 16A of an electrical generator, by which electrical energy may be generated to detonate the shell in flight with the use of a suitable control or timing construction.

Various modifications, changes or alterations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a projectile timing fuze arrangement having a rotor housing, an arming member rotatably mounted within the projectile, and a rotor journalled in said housing,

said rotor having a shaft mechanically coupled to said arming member,

said rotor having an internal substantially helical groove,

a unidirectional shear plate secured across said groove adjacent a forward end thereof, and

a fluid stored in the groove forward end and held by said shear plate located rearwardly of said fluid,

so constructed and arranged that in response to a rearwardly directed set back force applied to said fuze arrangement upon launching of the unarmed projectile, said fluid will rupture said shear plate and impart rotation to said rotor and arming memher.

2. The structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fluid is a silicone fluid impregnated with uranium powder.

. 3. In a body subjectable to impulse linear acceleration and having a housing member and a rotor journalled in said housing member,

means within said rotor and responsive to said impulse linear acceleration for imparting rotation to said rotor relative to said housing member, said rotation imparting means including an internal substantially helical groove located in said rotor, a unidirectional shear plate secured across said groove adjacent a forward end thereof, and a fluid stored in the groove forward end and held by said shear plate located rearwardly of said fluid.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said rotor has a shaft extending through said housing and drivingly connected to an arming member of a projectile fuze mechanism.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said rotor has a conically recessed end face surrounding at least a portion of said rotor shaft, said housing member has a conically shaped surface portion, and a conically arranged bearing assembly intermediate said conical rotor end face and mating housing surface portion.

6. The structure of claim 3 wherein a rotatable element of an electrical generator is drivingly connected to said rotor.

* i I! k 

1. In a projectile timing fuze arrangement having a rotor housing, an arming member rotatably mounted within the projectile, and a rotor journalled in said housing, said rotor having a shaft mechanically coupled to said arming member, said rotor having an internal substantially helical groove, a unidirectional shear plate secured across said groove adjacent a forward end thereof, and a fluid stored in the groove forward end and held by said shear plate located rearwardly of said fluid, so constructed and arranged that in response to a rearwardly directed set back force applied to said fuze arrangement upon launching of the unarmed projectile, said fluid will rupture said shear plate and impart rotation to said rotor and arming member.
 2. The structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fluid is a silicone fluid impregnated with uranium powder.
 3. In a body subjectable to impulse linear acceleration and having a housing member and a rotor journalled in said housing member, means within said rotor and responsive to said impulse linear acceleration for imparting rotation to said rotor relative to said housing member, said rotation imparting means including an internal substantially helical groove located in said rotor, a unidirectional shear plate secured across said groove adjacent a forward end thereof, and a fluid stored in the groove forward end and held by said shear plate located rearwardly of said fluid.
 4. The structure of claim 3 in which said rotor has a shaft extending through said housing and drivingly connected to an arming member of a projectile fuze mechanism.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said rotor has a conically recessed end face surrounding at least a portion of said rotor shaft, said housing member has a conically shaped surface portion, and a conically arranged bearing assembly intermediate said conical rotor end face and mating housing surface portion.
 6. The structure of claim 3 wherein a rotatable element of an electrical generator is drivingly connected to said rotor. 